Turkish Culture

On Tuesday, May 13th a mining disaster claimed the lives of nearly 300 miners in Soma near western Turkey. According to reports the death toll seems certain to rise, as about 100 people are still missing. The disaster was caused by a fire in the mine. Efforts were made to save the victims, however only around 100 have been rescued.The mine explosion is already being called the deadliest industrial disaster in Turkey s history. It is not just those who lost relatives and loved ones in the worst mining tragedy that Turkey has ever faced who are suffering;…

What would you think of two men who befriend a guard at a local museum. They would take Turkish coffee up to his guard post and sit with him during the morning and talk. An idyllic two culture peace enclave in a sea of surrounding hatred. Beautiful. Then one morning his friends showed up, but this time they didn t bring coffee, they brought a long, sharp knife, slit his throat like a pig and fled.John Grimshaws Garden Diary: November 2009

I recently recommended visiting the country to a friend who was asking her Facebook followers where their favorite destinations were and where they hoped to go. Turkey,along with Iceland and Yellowstone,top my list. I guess I go for that very different/volcanic/other-worldly vibe. But the culture there is pretty interesting,too. A couple ancient wonders of the world were there,Mary (Jesus mother) was born there and you can see her house,the tea is great,the food is decent,the scenery and coastline are breathtaking,and the people are actually very…

The Ottoman Empire (Ottoman Turkish: Devlet-i Aliye-i Osmaniye; Modern Turkish: Osmanl mparatorluu) was an imperial power centered around the borders of the Mediterranean Sea that existed from 1281 (or 1299) to 1923. It was one of the largest empires of all times, and, at the height of its power, it included Anatolia, the Middle East, parts of North Africa, and south-eastern Europe. It was established by a tribe of Oghuz Turks in western Anatolia and ruled by the Osmanl dynasty, the descendants of those Turks The Oghuz Turks are labeled by some…

Turkey marks as one of the favourite countries I ever visited. I spent 2 weeks there, traveling from Istanbul, Ephesus to Cappadocia, and the historical sites and rich cultural landscapes still stay deeply entrenched in my memories. (Read: 5 Best Turkish Street Food from Istanbul ) So when I learnt there is a Turkish joint Ottoman Kebab &amp; Grill even at far away Bedok Mall, I had to go. How many Turkish restaurants in Singapore can you name? Sofra at Shaw, Arkadas Cafes at Fusionpolis, and Alaturka at Bussorah Street. Where else?! The Halal-certified…

A list being circulated over the Internet asking people to read these facts about Israel and the so called Arab Israeli Conflict. The confused PR is intended to influence people who have little information about the history or the facts of the situation. Most of the 20 points are classic Zionist myths that have been debunked even by Israeli historians. But perhaps these answers will be useful in public discussions and responding. 1. MYTH: Nationhood and Jerusalem. Israel became a nation in 1312 B.C.E., two thousand years before the rise of…

Reference: With a population of more than 82 million, Germany is in Central Europe, bordering Austria, Belgium, Czech Republic, Denmark, France, Luxembourg, Netherlands, Switzerland and Poland. While all of these cultures have had a hand, to varying degrees, in shaping today’s Germany, Austria and Belgium have had some of the greatest influence on Deutschland . The population is 91.5 percent German, with Turkish being the second largest ethnic group at 2.4 percent. The remaining 6.1 percent is made up primarily of those of Greek, Russian Italian…

The ancient traditions of Turkey have for many years lured millions of foreign visitors to its borders, eager to learn more about the country that is widely misinterpreted in many Western publications. Thanks to regional and historical influences, each area is known for a specialty, whether it is food, music or a sport such as the oil wrestling men of Edirne. One common tradition exists though, stretching from the North to the East and anyone could easily dismiss it or be completely ignorant of its importance because it is performed hundreds of…